New helmet leaking from top vents (even when closed)

LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Hi all,

My new Shark S900C helmet which is only a few weeks old is leaking from top vents even when they are closed.

This means raindrops get not only on the inside of my visor, annoying blocking vision but also not helping with misting (I have a pinlock). It also ends up on my nose and all over the sun shade. The vents are quite large compared to my last Shark Vision R, but hey people do ride in the rain!!

I have tested it in the shower and it doesn't appear to be leaking from the visor seal.

Is this acceptable? I don't think it is but I thought I'd ask on here first.

Cheers

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

tl;dr Have you tried using the chin deflector for you lid? Assuming there is one.

Are you 100% sure its the vents?

Reason I ask is because my Shoei does the same thing. I can put the lid on inside/under cover, leave the visor closed except maybe putting it on the 2mm open notch. All vents closed. Ride around in the rain and after 30mins the inside of the visor has many little rain droplets.

After 2.5 years of wobbling about and ignoring it, I sat down and tried to figure out why my cheaper £90 Nolan lid from 20yrs ago never leaked. The only difference I could see was the Nolan had a chin curtain / wind deflector fixed in place.

Dug out the Shoei chin deflector attachment, stuck it on and suddenly no droplets of rain inside the visor. Smile

LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Thanks for your reply.

I have tried both a curtain style one which my last helmet had and the tiny mesh one which is included with the helmet.

I am using a shower head and even if I just direct it into the top vents it flows inside around to the top of the visor area where the flip down sun shade is.

Nobby the Bastard · Harley Gaydar Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :

Stick some electricianss tape over the vents...
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LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Not so sure about that with a brand new helmet?? And even if I was out in the sun with no tape and there was a sudden rain shower I'd get wet...

Has anyone else got this helmet?

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Take it back and ask where you got it from.
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-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Take it back for a refund - a new helmet shouldn't be leaking like that. If theres no external marks and damage and the interior padding etc isn't damaged I can't see them being able to refuse easily.

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

I have a Caberg Ego

https://www.twowheel.co.uk/images/detailed/12/caberg-ego-vented-helmet-black-4.jpg

It's got a fecking sunroof & still hasn't leaked Laughing

Take it back Thumbs Up

Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

My Shark lid is exactly the same, leaks through the top air vent!
Gaffer tape for the street racer look! Mr. Green

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-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Karma :

Hi.

I have the exact same lid and have done since April last year. I've never had the problem you describe or any other problem with it tbh. I ride practically every day, come rain or shine and have ridden in some very heavy downpours.

Are you certain that it's not coming in through a gap in the visor? I only ask, as my original visor got a little warped in the summer, through hanging around in some pretty high temperatures, which left it not sealing properly.

I replaced it with a new visor and it has been perfect.

Maybe your one has some sort of fault. I would certainly get in touch with Shark and see what they recommend/say.

Keep us posted, as I'd be interested in what their customer service is like. Thumbs Up

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Karma :

^^^Yep...mine's the S900C, the one with the air pump built in.

I'd say that it sounds as though there is some sort of fault if yours is letting in water. Take it back and exchange it for another.

LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Thank you, that's the same one. I'll ask for a replacement first of all.

Thanks all for your help - I'll update on how it goes.

Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

johnsmith222 · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Karma :

Wonko The Sane · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2013 Karma :

LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Whoops, I said I'd update this on how it goes.

Well I took it back to the shop who then sent it off back to Shark to be repaired. They sent it back with a helpful note saying not to have the vents open in the rain (duh) and that they have gave it a full service. They also seem to have buggered the pinlock which never sealed again so I went back to the shop who were very helpful and gave me a new visor/pinlock which works great.

Well, after using it in the rain - no difference I have noticed small drops appearing over the inside of the visor - very annoying but not too bad, but when you do a lifesaver above 30mph that's when the floodgates open! It is so bad I ended up riding with the visor up, the inside of the helmet was soaked all over and the visor. After looking at the helmet and comparing it to my last one I can see that there is no side sealing for the visor, you know the little rubber bead. This means that when you do a lifesaver all the water comes flying in from all around the visor to inside of the visor.

Not happy... Poor design no repair is going to fix that.
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MuffinMenace · Derestricted Danger Joined: 18 Feb 2014 Karma :

Take it back again and explain it's still not fixed, if the goods aren't up to standard (and lets face it a leaking helmet is not up to UK standards) then ask for a full refund.
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Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Karma :

Just looked at my lid and youre correct about the lack of rubber beading at the sides but, I have to say that I have never encountered the problems you're having with it leaking. It would appear that there is an issue with your lid as it is. Confused

I really don't know what to suggest. Sad

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

LaurenceR46 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 28 Dec 2013 Karma :

Dave70 · World Chat Champion Joined: 21 Jan 2012 Karma :

No problems at all with it leaking but, then again I don't do life savers. (Joking btw) Laughing

The only issue I've had is with smalI cracks appearing around the pinlock pins after a couple of months. It happened with the first visor, so I bought a new one, along with a new pinlock and the same thing is starting to happen with that one.

Otherwise, I have found it good value for money and the best lid I own but, I can only compare it against a Nitro and a Caberg that I have used in the past.